tLiverpool took on Arsenal today in a mammoth Premier League fixture with both sides competing for the title.
With Manchester City top of the table heading into this game, Liverpool knew that three points would take them back to no. 1 in the Premier League standings, with the Gunners coming into this match having lost 2-0 last weekend to AFC Bournemouth.
With Mikel Arteta also praising Liverpool and Arne Slot in the pre-match press conference, there has been a lot of confidence surrounding the Anfield side and their chances of getting a result at the Emirates Stadium.Yet Gary Neville was far from pleased after one moment from Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk criticised after ‘silly’ tackle on Arsenal’s Declan RiceSpeaking on Sky Sports coverage of the match, the pundit slammed the Liverpool captain after Van Dijk gave away a cheap foul on Declan Rice in a dangerous area for Arsenal, with the Gunners scoring shortly after.
With Van Dijk scoring the equalising goal heading into half-time, the Dutch international more than redeemed himself as Liverpool slowly found their way back into the match after a quick start from Arsenal.
Indeed, Van Dijk’s goal was a turning point for the Reds, yet Neville was clearly left annoyed by the Liverpool defender after his foul on Rice earlier in the game, which set the tempo for the rest of the match.
Neville said: “It’s stupid from Van Dijk. He just got involved in a little tussle. He kicks out at him as well. Silly. He doesn’t really need to do it. He’s usually the calm one Van Dijk, something’s annoyed him.
Van Dijk redeemed himself immediately vs ArsenalVan Dijk is a defender who makes few errors, with Trent Alexander-Arnold recently naming the Liverpool captain as one of the greatest players he’s ever played with since breaking into the Reds’ first-team.
And Van Dijk redeemed himself in the best way possible against Arsenal with a key goal for Liverpool, with the defender growing into the game at the back with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli looking lively for the Gunners.
Van Dijk’s quality is clear for all to see, and the Liverpool defender knows he can make up for any mistake with a big performance at the back by helping out in all aspects of the field for Slot’s side.
